New forum set up for Indonesian painters

New forum set up for Indonesian painters

JAKARTA (JP): The recent proliferation of various new
organizations has reached the island of Bali, where a group of
painters living in the artist village of Ubud have formed an
association of painters.

"We have associations for musicians, dancers and other arts.
But for painters, this is the first," Mohamed Harahap, one of the
12 founding members, told Antara yesterday.

Asosiasi Seniman Lukis Indonesia, or ASLI for short, was
formally established on Oct. 22 in Ubud, according to the news
agency in a dispatch from Denpasar, Bali.

"The initiative for forming the association came from Bali-
based painters," Mohamed said.

The news agency did not give the names of the other 11
founding members.

The founders hope that the association will take on national
stature, he said. "We have informed painters in Bandung and
Jakarta about the association and they are eager to support it."

Similar associations already exist in Australia, Japan,
Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand.

According to Mohamed, the concept of organizing artists has
long been alien to both the public and the artists themselves.

"People tend to think that it is better if artists are free,
without any commitment. This is not completely true because
artists also need one another," he said.

One of the objectives of ASLI, Mohamed said, is to change the
public stereotyping of painters as being selfish and closed-
minded.

The association will strive to improve the welfare of street
artists, promote the creations of its members and strengthen the
social awareness of painters as to their roles in national
development, he said. It will also provide support for gallery
and studio owners.

Mohamed said the association's formal launching will be held
next month with a charity activity in Rendang, a village in
Karangasem regency in Bali. Coordinating Minister for Public
Welfare Azwar Anas, State Minister of Research and Technology
B.J. Habibie and Minister of Social Services Inten Suweno are
expected to attend. (31)